Cover assembly for tanks



Feb. 10, 1959 c, FOLMSBEE 2,873,043

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR TANKS Filed March 16, 1956 L p A? 4/ INVENTOR. J3 ydeflfimfiee, J/ W! BY United States Patent COVER ASSEMBLY FOR TANKS Clyde H. Folmsbee, Charlevoix, Mich., assignor to-Union Car Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,031 6 Claims. (Cl. 2220-55) This invention relates, as indicated, to a cover assembly for tanks, and more particularly to a cover assembly for a manway in railway tank cars and the like.

It is frequently necessary to replace the entire cover assembly in a tank for different commodities. For example, in some instances it is required that the cover assembly be of strong structural materials. If the tank is to be pressurized, a more effective seal is desirable.

It is, therefore, an object of the inventionto provide a cover assembly which is readily removable and made up of easily replaceable elements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cover assembly for tanks in which the cover cannot be removed until the seal is broken.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention andin which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section of the cover assembly as shown in Figure 2, except with another form of bolt used for holding the cover.

As shown in the drawing, a suitable opening 11 is formed in the upper wall of the tank 10. A supporting base ring 12 is integrally secured to the tank around the periphery of the opening 11, as by welding. The base 12 is provided with a shoulder 15 along its interior upper edge in which a manway ring 16 in the form of a sealing member is seated. The sealing ring may be of metal or any other material of proper strength. A suitable annular groove 18 may be provided adjacent the inner surface of the base 12 to receive an O-ring 19 which serves to form a seal between the ring 16 and the base 12.

A plurality of threaded bores 21 are provided in the base 12 adapted to threadedly receive the studs 22. A retainer collar 24 is adapted to be disposed on top of the base 12 and removably held in engagement therewith by the studs 22 and the hex nuts 25 which can be threaded on the upper end of the studs 22.

The retainer collar 24 is provided with a shoulder 28 on its inner periphery adapted to co-operate with a shoulder 27 formed at the base of the ring 16 to retain the ring 16 in abutment with the upper edge of the base 12 as previously described. As best shown in Figure 2, the retainer collar 24 is provided with a plurality of recesses 31 in its bottom around the periphery thereof. Slotted openings 32 in the outer and upper periphery of the retainer collar communicate with said recesses. T- bolts 34, 35 extend from the retainer collar through these slotted openings. The recesses in the retainer collar bottom are adapted to receive the transverse portion of the T-bolts 34. 35. These bolts are inserted in the 2,873,043 Patented Feb. 10, 1959 be pivoted outwardly on their T-base toward or away v p from the center of the circle encompassed by the retainer collar.

Also, the construction permits easy removal and replacement of the bolts. 7

A cover member 40 is provided which has a plurality of slots 41 in its outer periphery corresponding with the slots in the retaining ring 24 which are adapted to re- 'ceive the upper ends of the T-bolts 34, 35. A boss 44 is provided at the inner extremity of each of the slots 41 in the cover 40 having a recess 46 which forms a seat for the hex nuts 45 on the ends of the T-bolts 34,

35 after they have been pivoted upwardly into locking association with the cover 40.

The cover 40 is pivotally secured to the two flanges 50 by the pin 51, the pin being carried by the arms 52. With all of the T-bolts pivoted out of the slots in the cover 40, the cover may be lifted by handle 53, so that it pivots about the pin 51 into an open position.

In addition to the T-bolts 34, as shown in Figure 3, there are two retaining bolts 35 having a slightly different configuration. As best shown in Figure 2, these bolts 35 have a protruding boss or shoulder 54 provided adjacent the base thereof. This boss 54 is of sufficient width that it will not pass through the slot 41 in which the T-bolt 35 is normally received. This means that even though the hex nut is loosened to some degree it will not permit the bolt 35 to pivot out of the slot 41 until the cover 40 has been lifted sufficiently to permit the boss 54 to clear the downwardly projecting flange 55 on the cover 40. Thus, any seal previously formed between the cover 40 and the ring 16 will necessarily have been broken before the cover 40 is free to move away from the ring 16.

A relief valve 60 is also provided at the center of the cover 40 which valve is designed to open to the atmosphere if the pressure within the tank falls below atmospheric pressure.

At the upper edge of ring 16 may be provided a groove 61 adapted to receive an O-ring 62 to provide a seal with the cover member 40 when the latter is in engagement therewith.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that in i the structure disclosed herein the entire cover assembly may be replaced by one of a difference type. Alternatively, any element in the assembly may be substituted by another. This flexibility is important if the tank is to contain different commodities. For example, ring 16 can be removed and a different type of seal can be substituted in the event a pressurized tank is required. This is done by loosening retainer ring 24 so that the ring 16 can be lifted out of association with the base 12 and a ring of different structural characteristics substituted therefor. Likewise, a different type of cover may also be substituted at the same time.

In the drawing and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cover assembly for a tank comprising a base member secured around an opening in a tank, said base the inner periphery thereof, an upwardly facing base member groove in said shoulder, a sealing member in said base member groove, a sealing ring member with a groove on the upper end Seated on said shoulder of said base member, a sealing member in said sealing ring member groove, said sealing ring member having a shoulder'formed on the outer periphery thereof adjacent its lower end, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said shoulder on said sealing ring member for holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against said sealing member on said sealing ring member,

2. A cover assemblyfor a tank comprising a base member secured around an opening in a tank, said base member having an upwardly facing shoulder formed on the inner periphery thereof, a sealing ring member with a groove on the upper end thereof seated on said shoulder of said base member, a sealing member in said groove, said sealing ring member having a shoulder formed on the outer periphery thereof, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said shoulder on said sealing ring member for holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against said sealing member on sealing ring member 3. A cover assembly for a tank comprising a base member secured around an opening in a tank,'said base member having an upwardly facing shoulder formed on the inner periphery thereof, a metal sealing ring member with groove on the upper end seated on said shoulder of said base member, a sealing member in said groove, said sealing ringmember having a shoulder formed on the outer periphery thereof, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said shoulder on said sealing ring member for holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against said sealing member on sealing ring member.

4. A cover assembly for a tank'comp'rising a base member with an upwardly facing shoulder secured around an opening in a tank, a metal sealing ringmember with a grooveon the upper-end seated on said shoulder of said base member, a horizontallyextending shoulder on the outer portion of said sealing ring member, a sealing member in said groove, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said shoulder on said sealing ring member for holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against said sealing member on said sealing ring member.

5. A cover assembly for a tank comprising a base member secured around an opening in a tank, said base member having an upwardly facing shoulder formed on the inner periphery thereof, a metal sealing ring'member with gasket groove on upper end seated on said shoulder on said base member, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said sealing ring member for holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, sealing members operatively associated with said sealing ring member engagingsaid base member and said cover member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against the upper sealing member associated with said sealing ring member.

6. A cover assembly for a tank comprising a base member secured around an opening in a tank, said base member having an upwardly facing shoulder formed on the inner periphery thereof, a metal sealing ring member seated on said shoulder of said base member, said sealing ring member having a shoulder formed on the outer periphery thereof, an annular retainer member removably fastened to said base member engaging said shoulder on said sealing ring member and holding said sealing ring member on said base member, a cover member over said sealing ring member, sealing members operatively associated with said sealing ring member engaging said base member and said cover member, and means pivoted on said retainer member securing said cover member against the upper sealing member associated with said sealing ring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 97,879 Cattell Dec. 14, 1869 1,036,378 Thurman Aug. 20, 1912 1,744,119 Hull Ian. 21, 1930 1,894,679 Folrnsbee Jan. 17, 1933 1,990,189 King Feb. 5, 1935 2,517,372 Ambrose Aug. 1, 1950 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Clyde H. Folmsbee Column 2, line 70, after "said base" insert III facing shoulder formed on column 4, line 13, said ember having an upwardly for "on said read of Signed and sealed this 30th day of June 1959.

SEAL) Attest:

ARL H. AJCLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

